Council votes on anti-casino stance

Developments in the establishment of a Columbus casino seemed to rule out a Polaris site last week, but Westerville City Council still voted to firm up their anti-casino stance.

Developments in the establishment of a Columbus casino seemed to rule out a Polaris site last week, but Westerville City Council still voted to firm up their anti-casino stance.

City council voted unanimously at its Jan. 19 meeting on a resolution stating their opposition to a Polaris-area casino.

The seven members of council first voiced their opposition to a casino at their Jan. 8 meeting.

The Polaris area came up as a possible site on the recommendation of Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman. A specific location was not mentioned, but speculation had the former Germain Amphitheater listed as a potential spot.

Amid local opposition to the Arena District site approved by Ohio voters via a constitutional amendment Nov. 3, Coleman proposed four potential sites to casino owners Penn National Gaming: Polaris, Westland Mall, the former Delphi auto-parts plant and Cooper Stadium.

Following the Jan. 8 meeting, Westerville city manager Dave Collinsworth sent a letter opposing a Polaris option to Coleman.

Penn National Gaming announced early last week that it would seek to purchase to purchase the Delphi site and would pursue a constitutional amendment allowing for the change in location.

Regardless of that commitment by Penn National, Collinsworth said it's still beneficial for the city of Westerville to be on record against a Polaris casino because the casino company has a long process to go through before the Delphi site becomes official.

"I still think it's a valid resolution to seek," Collinsworth said.

Members of council agreed.

"I think that is the thing to do," Councilman Eric Busch said. "As it goes through that statewide process, it's not over 'til it's over."

If something does go awry with Penn National's plans for a West Side casino, Mayor Kathy Cocuzzi said the city should be ready.

"I think it's something that's important for us to go on the permanent record that we are against that," Cocuzzi said.

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